Chapter 190: Special Chapter 9: I'll Wait Again

For a long while, none of us spoke. The wind continued drifting quietly across the cliffs, carrying with it the endless murmur of the sea below.

I lowered my gaze. Everything they had told me...

About Elixane. About the Moon Goddess. About the endless cycle of reincarnation. About my own curse.

It answered questions I had carried across countless lifetimes.

Yet somehow, it also created new ones.

I finally understood why every Euphyllia had carried the same name, why every face had been different, and why every death had returned my memories only after I had already lost her.

The Moon Goddess had answered my prayer. Just not in the way I had expected.

She had granted me another chance. Again and again. But every chance demanded the same sacrifice.

My memories.

Everything I had learned. Everything I had built. Everything I could have used to save her.

I closed my eyes as a bitter smile tugged faintly at my lips. Moon Goddess had granted my wish. I had merely failed to understand the price. "So..." I began before I slowly lifted my gaze toward the two of them. "...I only have to wait?"

Luna Queen Rachelle nodded gently. Her movements lacked their usual liveliness as she quietly settled onto the grass before me, unconcerned by the pristine white gown she wore or the damp earth beneath it. She rested both hands upon her lap before smiling softly. "Didn't Euphyllia ask you to investigate every Euphyllia and Elixane throughout history?"

I nodded. I wanted to ask how she knew it, but it was obvious that the Moon Goddess had told her what She witnessed. "I did."

"Then continue." Her answer came without hesitation. "Use everything you've gathered." She looked toward the horizon where the sea met the sky. "One of Euphyllia's incarnations will eventually experience another betrayal." Her voice softened. "And when that happens, Elixane will begin remembering." She looked back at me. "The unfortunate part..." A helpless smile crossed her lips. "...is that you'll have to wait."

The words hung quietly in the space between us. Wait. How many centuries had I already spent doing exactly that?

Waiting to remember. Waiting to find her. Waiting to lose her. Waiting to die.

Yet, this time, the waiting game was different. Because this time, I would remember.

Without thinking, my hand reached forward. I gently caught Luna Queen Rachelle's hand before she could finish speaking. The movement surprised even me. But my fingers tightened around hers. Not enough to hurt. Only enough to keep myself from falling apart.

Tears blurred my vision before I even realized they had begun to fall. "I've already waited..." My voice trembled. "...for longer than I can remember." A quiet, broken laugh released from me. "I'll wait again."

There wasn't the slightest hesitation left inside me.

"I don't care how many years it takes. I don't care how many decades. I'll wait." My grip tightened unconsciously. "So long as..." My voice cracked. "...I don't lose her again." Fresh tears slipped freely down my face. "I know..." A smile found its way through the grief. "...she loved me."

Both of them quietly listened.

"I never asked her to. I never expected it. I spent lifetime after lifetime believing my role was simply to love her from afar." My chest tightened painfully. "But before she died..." I instinctively pressed a hand against my heart. "...she mind-linked me."

The memory came back with a sharp ache—the warmth in her voice, the fragility it concealed, and the love she had chosen to give, no matter what.

"She told me..." Another tear escaped. "...that she loved me." I lowered my head. "That alone..." A small smile trembled upon my lips. "...gave meaning to every lifetime I had endured."

Slowly, I released Luna Queen Rachelle's hand, only to reach for both of theirs instead. My fingers wrapped around theirs with desperate sincerity. "Please, Your Majesties..." I begged. "I don't know how to do this alone anymore."

The confession left me before pride could stop it.

"I'll do anything. I'll wait. I'll prepare. I'll become stronger. I'll become someone worthy of protecting her. I only ask..." My voice broke completely. "...help me."

Silence enveloped us. It was not the lonely silence I had grown accustomed to. But a comforting one. Luna Queen Rachelle glanced at Alpha King Claudian, their eyes locking in silent understanding. No words were exchanged, for none were necessary.

Together, they tightened their hold around my hands.

Luna Queen Rachelle leaned in first, the usual playful spark in her eyes replaced by a steady, quiet determination. "If you're truly willing to do everything..." She smiled gently. "...then stop dying, Lucretius."

The simple words struck deeper than any blade.

"No more throwing your life away. No more starting from nothing. No more making Mother grant the same wish again." She squeezed my hands reassuringly. "Instead, prepare yourself. Heal. Live. So that when you finally meet my sister again, you're still carrying every memory that brought you to her." Her smile deepened. "And this time, you might finally reach her before tragedy does."

Alpha King Claudian finally spoke. He released one of my hands only long enough to rest it firmly upon my shoulder. The gesture was reassuring. "We'll help you." His deep voice carried the same quiet certainty that had steadied packs. "You won't carry this burden by yourself anymore." He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You're not alone, Lucretius."

Those four words... Simple as they were...

Something inside me broke—not from sorrow, but from relief—so much that I couldn’t help but hug them both, and they hugged me back.

For the first time since Aurelian had knelt beside the body of the first Euphyllia... For the first time across countless lifetimes... I no longer felt like I was walking toward fate...

Alone.

Two years had gone by—two years of waiting, two years of preparation. This time, I wasn’t about to waste the chance Their Majesties had granted me. Every report bearing the name Euphyllia eventually found its way onto my desk.

Noble houses. Merchant families. Common villages. Border settlements.

Every woman carrying that name was quietly investigated. Not because I believed every Euphyllia was Her, but because somewhere, one of them would be.

The wall inside my private study gradually disappeared beneath countless maps, handwritten notes, family records, and carefully drawn lines connecting one territory to another.

Names.

Birthdates.

Parents.

Siblings.

Marriages.

Anything that might one day become useful. I prepared for every possibility. Because this time, I refused to arrive too late.

Life, however, continued moving forward. Military campaigns demanded my attention. The Golden Eclipse Pack continued expanding. Trade flourished. The kingdom enjoyed an era of peace after the rogue war two years ago.

Outwardly, nothing seemed unusual. Inwardly, every morning began the same way. I searched for her, and every evening ended the same. I hoped I’d find her before fate did. Then one afternoon, a royal summons appeared.

I made my way toward the palace, expecting another military discussion. Instead, I found Their Majesties already waiting inside the Alpha King's study.

Claude stood beside one of the windows, arms folded comfortably across his chest, while Rachelle sat upon the edge of his desk, idly swinging one foot while absentmindedly flipping through a leather folder resting upon her lap.

The moment I entered, both of them looked toward me.

I bowed. "Your Majesties."

Claude inclined his head. "Spare the formalities." He waved his hand as if dismissing my greeting.

There was something unusual about the atmosphere. Neither of them appeared relaxed.

Even Rachelle's usual playfulness seemed strangely restrained. She closed the folder before hopping down from the desk. "Old man..."

The familiar nickname earned a playful eye roll from me. "Brat..." I couldn't help but utter it.

She gasped dramatically and was about to tell it to Claude, but she caught him arching his eyebrow as if he already knew what shenanigan she was about to play again. In the end, she pouted and huffed.

I merely sighed. "What happened?"

Rather than answering immediately, she turned at me and tilted her head. "Do you remember General Enoch Caelthorn?"

My thoughts paused. "Of course." I nodded.

He was one of the kingdom's most dependable generals. We had fought together on more occasions than I cared to count. He was a capable commander, disciplined and respected.

Rachelle nodded once. "He has a younger sister. She's 37 years old."

Something stirred inside me. It was a flash of recognition. My mind instinctively began sorting through the countless reports stored within my memory.

Caelthorn...

General Enoch Caelthorn.

House of Caelthorn.

Caelthorn Trading House.

On my investigation board, there was a single report, a lone portrait, and just one name.

Euphyllia...

My heartbeat abruptly stopped. Slowly, I lifted my gaze toward Rachelle. "No..." I breathed.  She watched me carefully as my throat tightened. "Do you mean..."

I couldn't finish the sentence.

I couldn't.

Because I was suddenly terrified of hearing the answer.

Rachelle slowly nodded. Without another word, she extended the leather folder toward me.

My fingers trembled as I accepted it. Inside lay a freshly written intelligence report. Beneath it was a portrait.

The moment my eyes landed upon the painting, the rest of the room disappeared. It was silver-blue eyes and dark hair. It was not the same face. Never the same face.

Yet, I knew.

My breathing became uneven. I scarcely noticed Claude stepping closer, nor did I hear Rachelle quietly explaining the contents of the report.

"She was married several years ago. Her husband was discovered having an affair. She attempted to take her own life by poison. Fortunately, the physicians arrived in time."

Every word sounded impossibly distant.

Because all I could see... was her.

My fingers instinctively reached toward the portrait. They stopped just before touching the paper as if I feared she might disappear if I did. "Euphyllia..." The name escaped as little more than a breath. My vision blurred, and a quiet laugh broke free despite the tears threatening to fall. "So..." My thumb finally brushed lightly against the edge of her portrait. "...I found you."

No.

A bittersweet smile slowly formed across my lips. "You're finally here... my lady... my little soldier... wifey..."

For the first time in two years, hope no longer existed merely as a promise. It had become a face and a name.

A woman waiting somewhere beneath the same sky.

And this time, I still remembered everything.

The memory slowly slipped away—the royal study, the investigation board, the portrait I once held with trembling hands, the long years of waiting, the endless cycle. Everything dissolved like mist beneath the morning sun.

"Hubby?" A gentle feminine voice drew me back to the present.

I blinked slowly as the ceiling above me disappeared, replaced by something infinitely more beautiful.

It was my beloved mate and wife, Euphyllia Caelthorn-Franciosa.

She sat comfortably against the couch, her long dark hair cascading over one shoulder as she absentmindedly combed the loose strands of my hair that reached her waist, laying on her lap.

The afternoon sunlight spilling through the windows bathed her in warm gold. For several moments, I simply watched her as if reassuring myself she was truly here.

Alive.

"What are you thinking about?" She smiled softly, noticing that I had been staring at her far longer than usual.

Instead of answering right away, I glanced down to where our son lay sleeping peacefully, nestled securely in the crook of my right arm, Aurelian II, who was five years old already. His tiny hand remained stubbornly wrapped around my sleeve even in his sleep, as though afraid I might disappear the moment he let go.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Just like his mother.

Then, I looked toward my other arm. Our little daughter had somehow managed to occupy my entire left arm despite her tiny size.

Selene.

She had inherited her mother's silver-blue eyes. At least according to Euphyllia, who insisted Selene had inherited the same terrible habit she once had as a child.

"She keeps falling asleep on you," she'd laugh. "Just like I used to."

She wasn't wrong.

Centuries ago, another little lady had treated my shoulder, my lap, and even my arm as if they belonged exclusively to her. Back then, I had secretly prayed she would never move.

Now, I found myself praying our daughter would sleep just a little longer.

Her silver blanket had long since slipped halfway to the floor, one tiny hand resting innocently against my chest while soft, rhythmic breaths escaped her slightly parted lips.

A quiet smile found its way to my face. I still remember the day she was born.

Euphyllia had laughed through her exhaustion the moment the midwife placed our daughter into my trembling arms. "Looks like our family wasn't finished growing after all."

She had been right.

Once, I believed fate would never allow us to have a tomorrow. I had spent countless lifetimes watching every future we dreamed of crumble before it could even begin.

Yet, here she was.

Our second child.

It was proof that this lifetime no longer belonged to tragedy.

My thumb gently brushed against the back of her tiny hand, and she instinctively curled her fingers around mine without ever waking.

The simple gesture nearly made me laugh. Really. Just like her mother. And I was glad that both of our pups inherited it from her.

I carefully adjusted the blanket over her without waking either of our pups. Only then did I look back at my wife.

The corners of my lips lifted into the gentlest smile. "I was remembering how afraid I used to be."

Euphyllia paused mid-stroke on my hair. "Afraid?" she parroted.

I nodded. "I spent so many lifetimes believing happiness was something I could only borrow." My gaze drifted toward our sleeping children once more. "I always found you. I always loved you. And I always lost you."

The comb gradually stilled in her hand.

"But now..." I reached upward until my fingers found hers, and interlacing them came as naturally as breathing. "I wake up every morning beside my wife." I glanced toward Aurelian before lightly brushing a stray lock of hair away from his forehead. "I get to watch our son grow." Then toward Selene. "I get to hear our little daughter laugh."

Finally, I returned my gaze to Euphyllia.

"And every night..." My thumb gently caressed the wedding band resting upon her finger. "...I still can't believe Mother finally allowed me to keep you."

Her silver-blue eyes softened almost immediately. A faint shimmer gathered within them.

Without saying anything, she set the comb aside before leaning down just enough to press a lingering kiss against my forehead. "You've always had me, hubby." She smiled. "You just arrived a little late."

A soft chuckle escaped from me. "Not this time, wifey." I winked.

"No." She intertwined our fingers more firmly. "Not this time."

"I love you, wifey," I said warmly, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand.

Euphyllia melted. She bit her lower lip, trying to hide the smile, but failed. She chuckled softly as her cheeks tinted red, enough to make me smile because I knew that I never failed in making her flush every single time I said those three words.

"I love you more, hubby," she replied, smiling.

That made me smile sheepishly, like a teenage boy whose crush had finally returned his feelings.

Silence filled the room once more. Not the lonely kind that had shadowed me through endless lifetimes, but the gentle quiet of a home.

Children sleeping soundly. Sunlight spilling across warm wooden floors. A wife softly humming as she ran a comb through my hair to spoil me.

I closed my eyes, listening, memorizing, and cherishing every ordinary sound. Because once, I had prayed across countless lifetimes just to hear them again.

Now, they belonged to me.

Forever.

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THE END OF SPECIAL CHAPTERS.

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Mystique Luna's note:

Finally! Aurelian's POV is finally done! I'm glad you reached this end! See you again, my dear Lunas! I'm going to miss my dearest Euphyllia and Lucretius <3

Date finished: 07/11/2026 05:07 a.m.